CIA and Taliban, UK geospatial intel, Russian control centre in Ukraine, Serbian BIA

• UNITED KINGDOM/UNITED STATES - Britain buddies up with US Space Force

• UZBEKISTAN - Senior officials investigated by State Security Service

• PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Abbas's presumed successor falls from grace

• BRUSSELS - Kremlin opponents and separatist leaders gather at European Parliament

• CHINA - Xi changes reservist conscription system

France seeks Qatar defence cooperation amid tensions 

As strains emerge from criticism and legal action targeting prominent Qataris, France's defence ministry is hoping for a breakthrough in defence cooperation with the Gulf country, which has requested help from a French state armament agency to boost procurement.

East and West battle for Serbia's mass surveillance software market 

The Serbian government is engaged in a delicate balancing act, as it tries to combine state-of-the-art Swedish and American software systems with its already installed Chinese biometric surveillance systems. It is looking for Western technical support and financing to help it do this.

French foreign ministry puts Afghanistan on hold 

The French foreign ministry's team responsible for Afghanistan has been dismantled. For the moment no one has been appointed to replace outgoing ambassador David Martinon.

Space industry awaits British contracts with bated breath 

The British parliament, in the throes of an overhaul of the country's space strategy, is being bombarded with advice from defence industry players keen to press home their respective advantages. The issues raised point to the emminently political nature of Britain's GEOINT choices.